For Sale or Swap - Alyssa Brugman [46]
Mr Morgan dragged the gate across the drive, and as he returned to the truck, Shelby ducked down, pulling the blanket over her head again.
The truck swayed as Mr Morgan climbed back inside, drove through the gate and up the driveway. He stopped to close the gate behind him, and then swung the truck around sharply in front of the house, where he turned the engine off. Shelby could hear a dog running across the gravel, barking, and it jumped up – its claws hitting the window above her head. Shelby wondered if it could sense her.
'G'day, Rusty. How are ya, boy?'
Shelby lay still. She could hear Mr Morgan talking to the dog as he disappeared behind the truck. After she was sure that he wasn't going to come back, Shelby wrenched the blanket away from her face and took a deep breath, relieved to have the stench away from her nose and mouth.
For the first time in what seemed like an eternity Shelby moved her legs. They were stiff and numb. She had no idea how long they had been driving, but she believed – hoped – it hadn't been so long, because if they were not far away, she might recognise where she was and be able to find her way home.
She pulled the papers out from underneath her body and looked at them. It was just junk mail – a flyer for a plant sale and one for roof repairs. She scrunched them up. It didn't matter any more. She would find Blue and they would go home together.
Shelby crept forward and peeked out of the window on the passenger side. Mr Morgan had his back to her as he stood at the front door of the house, fumbling with his keys. The dog – a lanky German shepherd – was next to him and Mr Morgan stroked its ears. After a moment he found the right key and opened the door.
'Not you, Rusty,' the man said, shutting the door before the dog could get inside.
Shelby sat back on her heels and thought. She couldn't keep hiding in the truck. He might not have seen her the first time, but it had been dark. She was sure he wouldn't miss her a second time.
Her hands were clammy. She wiped them on the thighs of her pants. She looked out the passenger side window again. She should run away. It might be possible to run down the driveway without him seeing. What about the dog? He didn't look vicious, but he would probably bark at her when she climbed out of the truck. She would have a head start, but Mr Morgan's legs were longer. He would be able to catch up, and then what would happen?
Shelby sighed as she admitted to herself that she was too frightened to get out of the truck. She just wanted to be at home on the lounge with her parents on either side of her, and perhaps drinking a tall glass of chocolate milk.
Finally she slipped over to the front seat, keeping a close eye on the house, but there was no movement. She carefully opened the door and slid out. As soon as her feet touched the gravel of the driveway the dog started to bark. She felt cold adrenalin blossom in her belly and for an instant she was frozen to the spot.
'Shut up, Rusty!' came a muffled voice from inside the house. Shelby stood still and after a moment the dog trotted around the side of the truck, wagging his tail. She held out her hand and the dog moved towards it, sniffing and licking at her fingers. He let out one more yap and then stayed silent.
Shelby tiptoed around to the front of the truck. There were flimsy curtains over the front windows, but Mr Morgan would still be able to see through. She glanced over her shoulder to the driveway again. Her thoughts were all a big jumble and she didn't have time to properly think one through before another tumbled around in her head like clothes in a dryer.
She could start running. If she got up enough speed she could probably straddle the gate like they did with the pommel horse in PE. She could see herself swinging over it, legs straight and muscles taut like the gymnasts